How many moms have never leaked milk? Many people think that leaking milk means that they can’t store it and they don’t have enough milk for their baby. This is not true. But when milk leakage occurs, it’s not only embarrassing for the mom (especially in public), but it’s even more heartbreaking for the baby. About the causes and consequences of leaking milk! Although embarrassing from time to time, leaking or squirting of milk from breastfeeding breasts is a normal part of breastfeeding. Some women never leak, while others may leak a little milk from one breast at almost every feeding, but most people are prone to leaking when feeding their baby in the morning (when the milk is at its highest). Breast leakage has nothing to do with the amount of milk you produce, and many women who produce a lot of milk never leak. Your breasts can leak when the milk in your breasts spills out because they are too full, or when the lactation reflex occurs for some reason, for example, when another baby starts crying around you or when you feed your baby from the other breast, which still varies from person to person. What can I do to stop leaking milk? While there is no 100% effective way for you to avoid leaking, it does help to breastfeed or express your baby before your breasts get too full. If you have too much milk in the first few days of breastfeeding, make sure you stick to feeding on demand and try different feeding positions. Don’t worry, you’ll soon establish a breastfeeding rhythm that works best for you and your baby. While you can’t control overflow, you can make arrangements in advance. If you always leak milk from the other side when your baby is on one breast, stuff a piece of gauze or breast pads in your bra well before you start feeding. Even better, use a plastic, washable breast shield that empties after use. If the shields are sterilized before use, you can keep the milk you collect from the other breast and freeze it for your baby to eat later. When you go out, with or without your baby, take an extra top and two breast pads (in your bag where they are easy to get to) or wear clothes that hide milk stains. If you feel your milk coming out at an inopportune time, cross your arms over your chest, wrap them around and gently press them against your breasts. This may stop accidental milk leakage. Finally, make sure to stuff your bra with breast pads and don’t forget to change them when they get wet to avoid harboring bacteria on your nipples. Can I feed my baby with leaking milk? The first few weeks of breastfeeding, when you’re gradually building up a milk supply that’s right for your baby, are likely to be the most leaky. Many women find that by 6 to 10 weeks of breastfeeding, this problem will be almost completely gone. During this time, you and your baby will work together to establish a mutually adaptive supply and demand system. It’s important to realize that breast leakage reflects the fact that your body is very actively producing milk for your baby. In fact, the more often you breastfeed your baby, the less likely your breasts are to leak. That’s why it’s even more important to breastfeed more often when you are leaking, but of course, given your little one’s limited stomach sac, it’s okay to express some of your milk and save it. Remember, the more you breastfeed your baby, the more you both benefit.